Live thread: 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/5/23 11:42 a.m.

Start at the bottom of the mountain, drive up to the top as quickly as you can. Sounds simple enough, right? Oh, and did we mention the finish line is over 12 miles up the mountain at over 14,000 feet in elevation, and you’ll have to navigate some 150 turns to get there?

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Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/5/23 11:44 a.m.

Always wondered what a van would look like competing at Pikes Peak? Wonder no more.

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

The Ford Supervan 4 is making the climb this year, apparently.

kevinatfms HalfDork
6/5/23 12:18 p.m.

Colin Wood said:
Always wondered what a van would look like competing at Pikes Peak? Wonder no more.

The Ford Supervan 4 is making the climb this year, apparently.

Be creative, live a fun life and don't be a shiny happy person.

That looks incredible.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/5/23 1:03 p.m.

In reply to kevinatfms :

Agreed. I'll take 2.

Keith Tanner MegaDork
6/5/23 1:10 p.m.

Made me look up the previous Supervans. I was aware of them, but didn't know much about them. The first one was a GT40 wearing a van as a hat! Second was a Group C racer underneath.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/qg6WdboK1nY?rel=0&start=93

Keith Tanner MegaDork
6/5/23 1:22 p.m.

Here's Supervan 4 at another well-known hillclimb.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/L6YJi9ul_pY?rel=0&start=332

thatsnowinnebago UberDork
6/5/23 6:17 p.m.

Hell yeah Supervan

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/6/23 10:24 a.m.

And props to Rupert for getting that photo to us.

APEowner UltraDork
6/6/23 10:47 a.m.

thatsnowinnebago said:
Hell yeah Supervan

That would be a cool subcategory at the Challenge.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/6/23 11:25 a.m.

APEowner said:
thatsnowinnebago said:
Hell yeah Supervan

That would be a cool subcategory at the Challenge.

We’ve already had the Batvan.

(Seriously, if you bring it, we’ll welcome it.)

msterbeau Reader
6/6/23 2:43 p.m.

Colin Wood said:
Always wondered what a van would look like competing at Pikes Peak? Wonder no more.

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

The Ford Supervan 4 is making the climb this year, apparently.

"Van". :-)

Kevin_at_BW New Reader
6/13/23 4:08 p.m.

I think we found a van that is less "transit" than our bmw is "e36". The Supervan being in our class and piloted by THE Romain Dumas himself will definitely spice things up. It certainly accelerates as hard as you'd imagine an AWD, 2000hp, electric...van can. I have video, just not sure the best way to share it here.

Kevin_at_BW New Reader
6/13/23 4:13 p.m.

BTW, we have been posting updates all throughout the last two test weeks and we'll continue through race week! You can follow along on BimmerWorld's Facebook and Instagram - @bimmerworld

https://www.youtube.com/embed/8tY_A4h0DX4?rel=0

nocones PowerDork
6/13/23 4:36 p.m.

In reply to Kevin_at_BW :

I drooled on this car at PRI. So awesome. Good luck on the mountain.

Keith Tanner MegaDork
6/13/23 4:55 p.m.

Kevin_at_BW said:
I think we found a van that is less "transit" than our bmw is "e36". The Supervan being in our class and piloted by THE Romain Dumas himself will definitely spice things up. It certainly accelerates as hard as you'd imagine an AWD, 2000hp, electric...van can. I have video, just not sure the best way to share it here.

Roman definitely knows his way up the hill.

Good luck! I can clearly tell from the taillights that your BMW is an E36. That and headlights are all you really need.

Kevin_at_BW New Reader
6/14/23 10:52 a.m.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5H9oQqBdgk?rel=0

How about hitting random ice spots at speed with 1500hp under your right foot? Looks like fun, right?

californiamilleghia UberDork
6/14/23 1:44 p.m.

did Pikes Peak get the snow and hail that pounded lots of Colorado etc ?

Keith Tanner MegaDork
6/14/23 3:29 p.m.

In reply to californiamilleghia :

I don't know about Pikes Peak specifically, but it was a heavy snow year. We still have ice on the lakes at 10,000'. This was last weekend, and I took the picture standing on a 10' snow pile.

Kevin_at_BW New Reader
6/14/23 4:30 p.m.

It snowed at the top section almost every single day we were out there testing between 6/1-6/4 and 6/8-6/11. We were the only group that found a small gap in the snow/ice last Friday morning that allowed us to run on the top section. Other than that day it was closed for testing and the groups got split up between the lower/mid section or for the first week of testing it was only the lower section open due to weather. We are REALLY crossing our fingers that race week stays clear so we can run to the top.

Last year the entire week leading up to race day was absolutely perfect and then race day was cold, rainy, snowy, foggy, and even though we did go to the summit it was at a extremely slow pace due to visibility. PLEASE let race day be clear!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/jLJ3Q8J7fe0?rel=0

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/15/23 9:15 a.m.

Acura just announced the Integra Type S will be making its motorsport debut at Pikes Peak, alongside NSX Type S "Active Aero Study," Integra 1.5T, TLX Type S and TLX Type S PMC Edition. (Photography Courtesy Acura)

HPD Integra Type S (Loni Unser–Exhibition)

Custom hood
Custom front splitter
Custom Swan-Neck Carbon Fiber Rear Wing
Borla exhaust
19-inch Titan 7 wheels
Yokohama Advan A005 tires

HART NSX Type S Active Aero Study (James Robinson–Time Attack 1)

Custom front splitter, rear diffuser and active aero rear wing
Larger turbochargers
Enhanced engine management software
Weight reduction of more than 200 lbs.
Lightweight HRE forged wheels
Yokohama Advan A005 tires

HART Integra 1.5T (Paul Hubers–Exhibition)

Bilstein dampers
Eibach springs
HPD TCA suspension kit
Cusco Racing LSD
Lightweight 18-inch HRE forged wheels
Yokohama Advan A005 tires
HPD billet engine mounts
Borla exhaust
Aero undercover
OMP racing seat, steering wheel and safety harness

HART TLX Type S (Jordan Guitar–Exhibition)

Larger turbocharger
Additional engine cooling
Retuned engine, transmission and SH-AWD® system software
Suspension lowered 1-inch
Race-compound brake pads
Lightweight 19-inch HRE forged wheels
Yokohama Advan A005 tires
Weight reduction of more than 600 lbs.
Carbon fiber hood
Composite front splitter, rear wing and dive planes

TLX Type S PMC Edition (David Malukas–Official Pace Car)

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/21/23 10:29 a.m.

Just giving this a bump since the event is this weekend.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/21/23 3:20 p.m.

Just got a fresh (virtual) stack of photos from Rupert Berrington from day 1 practice and qualifying:

Photography Credit: Brian Chapel

Photography Credit: Rupert Berrington

Photography Credit: Brian Chapel

Photography Credit: Vlad Tyeryekhov

Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) Dork
6/21/23 6:30 p.m.

Some of the coolest machines on the planet. Interesting designs when rules don't get in the way.

gumby Dork
6/21/23 9:10 p.m.

I spy a former USAC Gold Crown car in there. Neat.

MyMiatas HalfDork
6/21/23 10:09 p.m.

Keith Tanner said:
In reply to californiamilleghia :

I don't know about Pikes Peak specifically, but it was a heavy snow year. We still have ice on the lakes at 10,000'. This was last weekend, and I took the picture standing on a 10' snow pile.

Is it worth to go and actually see the race? Or is it way to crowded to enjoy it?

And was that photo taken up on the Mesa?